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Chatham is a village of approximately 13,000 residents located in Sangamon County, just south of Springfield. The community has seen steady residential growth, and a meaningful share of its households rent single-family homes, duplexes, and small apartment units. Renters in Chatham are governed entirely by Illinois state law — the village has enacted no local landlord-tenant ordinance of its own.
The most common questions Chatham renters have involve security deposit returns, habitability obligations, and the eviction process. Illinois provides baseline protections through the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710), the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 725), the Rent Control Preemption Act (765 ILCS 720), and common-law habitability standards. Because Chatham is not Chicago, the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) does not apply here.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area.
Chatham has no rent control, and Illinois state law prohibits any municipality from enacting it. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act, codified at 765 ILCS 720/5, explicitly bars any unit of local government — village, city, township, or county — from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would control or stabilize the price of rent on private residential property.
In practical terms, this means your landlord in Chatham may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term, provided they give you proper written notice (at least 30 days for a month-to-month tenancy). There is no cap on the size of a rent increase, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation or operating costs, and no local board or agency you can appeal to for relief. Once the legislature passed 765 ILCS 720, even well-intentioned local officials in Chatham are legally prevented from passing rent stabilization measures.
If your rent is increasing, your best options are to negotiate directly with your landlord, seek alternative housing, or consult a legal aid organization about whether any other tenant protection applies to your situation.
Illinois state law provides renters in Chatham with several important protections across different areas of the landlord-tenant relationship.
Security Deposits (765 ILCS 710 & 765 ILCS 725): Under the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/1), landlords who own five or more rental units must return a tenant's security deposit — along with an itemized statement of any deductions — within 30 days after the tenant vacates. If the landlord withholds any portion, a written itemization of damages must be provided within 30 days. Wrongful withholding entitles the tenant to the full deposit amount plus damages and court costs. The Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 725/1) requires landlords with 25 or more units to pay interest on security deposits held for six months or longer.
Habitability: Illinois courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability in residential leases, requiring landlords to maintain rental units in a condition that is safe, sanitary, and fit for human occupation. While Illinois does not have a single statewide habitability statute equivalent to some other states, tenants may pursue remedies in court — including rent withholding or repair-and-deduct in some circumstances — when a landlord fails to address serious defects affecting health or safety. Tenants should document all repair requests in writing.
Notice to Terminate (735 ILCS 5/9-207): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or tenant must provide at least 30 days written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the lease. For week-to-week tenancies, seven days notice is required. Failure to provide proper notice may entitle either party to damages.
Anti-Retaliation (765 ILCS 720/1): Illinois law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report code violations, contact housing authorities, or exercise any right granted by law. Retaliatory actions can include rent increases, eviction filings, or reduction of services. A tenant who proves retaliation may recover damages and attorney fees.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq.): Landlords in Illinois are prohibited from removing a tenant by force, changing locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out. Any landlord who engages in self-help eviction faces civil liability. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the court eviction process.
Illinois law governs security deposits for rentals in Chatham. The key statutes are the Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710) and the Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 725).
Deposit Cap: Illinois state law does not impose a maximum cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Chatham. The landlord and tenant negotiate the amount, though it is typically one to two months' rent.
Return Deadline: Landlords who own five or more residential units must return the security deposit — or the remaining balance after permissible deductions — within 30 days after the tenant surrenders possession of the unit (765 ILCS 710/1). The landlord must also provide a written, itemized statement of any deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear, along with paid receipts or repair estimates, within the same 30-day window.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to comply with the return and itemization requirements of 765 ILCS 710, the tenant is entitled to recover the full amount of the security deposit (not just the improperly withheld portion), plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees. This is a meaningful penalty designed to deter landlords from improperly keeping deposits.
Interest on Deposits (765 ILCS 725/1): Landlords who own 25 or more units and hold a security deposit for six months or longer must pay interest on that deposit at a rate set annually by the Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate. Most small landlords in Chatham will not trigger this requirement, but it applies to larger complexes.
Always obtain a receipt for your security deposit, keep a copy of your move-in and move-out condition checklists, and document the unit's condition with dated photographs.
Eviction in Chatham follows the Illinois Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, codified at 735 ILCS 5/9-101 through 9-321. Landlords must follow every step of this process — there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not pay, cure, or vacate by the end of the notice period, the landlord may file an eviction complaint in Sangamon County Circuit Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and given an opportunity to appear and respond.
Step 3 — Hearing: Both parties may present evidence and arguments at the hearing. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a judgment for possession. Tenants have the right to raise defenses such as the landlord's failure to maintain habitable conditions or procedural errors in the notice.
Step 4 — Order of Possession and Enforcement: After judgment, the court issues an order of possession. If the tenant does not leave voluntarily, the landlord may request that a sheriff enforce the order and physically remove the tenant. Only the sheriff — not the landlord — may carry out this removal.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or remove the tenant's belongings to force them out without a court order. Any such conduct violates 735 ILCS 5/9-101 et seq. and exposes the landlord to civil liability. If your landlord attempts a self-help eviction, document everything and contact legal aid immediately.
Just Cause: Illinois does not require just cause for eviction outside of specific local ordinances. Chatham has no such ordinance, so a landlord may decline to renew a lease for any reason (or no reason), provided proper notice is given.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page describes general principles of Illinois landlord-tenant law as of April 2026, but laws change and individual circumstances vary. Nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. If you have a specific legal problem or question about your rights as a renter in Chatham, Illinois, you should consult a licensed Illinois attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Prairie State Legal Services or Illinois Legal Aid Online. RentCheckMe makes no warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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